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ONE fifth of Clare homeowners’ property tax is leaving the county to pay for services in other cities and counties.

More than half of the Local Property Tax (LPT) paid by Clare households is going back to the National Government, with 20 per cent of it being used to fund less financially effective councils across the country.

Irate members of the council last evening claimed they were being penalised for being “the good boys in the class” as it managed last year on the third lowest payout from central government funds nationally.

It emerged in a circular from central government to the council as late as last Friday, that 34 per cent of the Local Property Tax Fund will be used for funding roads and housing, a fund previously provided by central government from motor tax and other grants, and separate from the local government fund.

In essence from the € 10.4 million it is expected to collect in property tax, Clare County Council will be left with just € 4.7 million for essential council services.

Of that just € 2 million can be used at the council’s own descretion for services such as hedge cutting or taking housing estates in charge.

If the members vote to reduce this tax by 15 per cent, as they are allowed to do so, this figure will be reduced by a further € 1. 56 million.

According to the circular directed by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and seen by The Clare People , “Based on its surplus position when expected 2015 LPT receipts are compared to GPG Allocations 2014, Clare County Council will be not be in receipt of equalisation funding in 2015.

“Part of the surplus up to the equivalent of 20 per cent of total expected LPT income (or the full amount of the surplus if that is less than 20 per cent) can be used as discretionary income by local authorities for whatever purposes they wish as part of their normal budgetary process,” the letter stated.

“The remainder of the surplus, if any, will then be available to the local authority to fund vital services in the social housing and roads areas thereby replacing Central Government funding for some of these services.”

The funding of social housing and roads was not understood to be among the services covered by the LPT as they were not previously covered by the Local Government Fund.

Cllr Tom McNamara (FF) asked if the people of Clare were now to receive a 10 per cent reduction in their motor taxation costs to compensate for the money going to roads.

Each year Clare motorists pay € 30 million in motor taxation through the offices in Clare County Council. Of the money collected just 8.5 per cent of it is spent in Clare.

LPT funding collected in Clare will now also go towards road works.

THE late Jim White has been recalled as a “dynamic and generous man” who made an “immense” contribution to the tourism industry in Clare.

The former Fine Gael TD and businessman passed away aged 76 last Tuesday. Originally from Donegal, he has a long association with the hotel industry in Clare.

He purchased the Hydro Hotel in Lisdoonvarna in the mid-seventies, which laid the foundations for what is now known as White’s Hotel Group, comprising the King Thomond, the Burren Castle Hotel and the Imperial Hotel. The Group also runs hotels in Donegal and Kerry.

Chairman of Lisdoonvarna Fáilte Ltd, Paddy Dunne, said Mr White was an “extremely popular and wellrespected man who will be greatly missed both at home in Donegal and here in North Clare”.

He continued, “Since the 1970s Jim’s contribution to the promotion of tourism in Lisdoonvarna has been immense. The White family’s investment in the town created, and continues to create, much needed employment in the local area. Indeed from the moment Jim arrived in Lisdoonvarna, following the purchase of the Hydro Hotel and the Moher Inn, which is now the Burren Castle Hotel, he employed locals. Initially during the renovation of the hotels he employed local trades people and then subsequently hotel staff.

“There are not many families in Lisdoonvarna who haven’t had at least one member employed at one of the White’s hotels. Jim was a dynamic and generous man who will be remembered fondly, particularly in September when the hotels are full and Lisdoonvarna really comes alive to the sounds of music and dancing,” Mr Dunne said. “Lisdoonvarna Fáilte would like to extend their sympathies to Jim’s family, in particular to his son, Marcus, who is a great supporter of Lisdoonvarna.”

Taoiseach Enda Kenny also paid tribute to Mr White, “a man of enormous positivity and generosity with huge credibility in the area of tourism and business”.

Mr Kenny continued, “In particular, his hard work led to an increase in tourism – spend in the north west of Ireland. He was a man of enormous popularity in Donegal and the North West in general and even managed to head the poll against Neill Blaney in a general election.”

Mr Kenny added, “I would like to extend on my own behalf and on behalf of the Fine Gael party my sincere condolences to all his family, especially his children Caroline, Bettina, Marcus, Sinead, James Jr, Megan and Mitchell. I called to see him only last Sunday in the Mater hospital where I met and spoke with his family as Jim approached his last days.”

SHANNON Airport’s strong revival continues according to figures released by the Irish Aviation Authority, which show a 27 per cent increase in flights from this time last year.

With an average of 71 flights dai- ly during the month of August the number is significantly up on the same month last year.

According to the figures, August saw 1,835 flights in Irish airspace, including approximately 700 flights at the three main airports – Shannon, Cork and Dublin.

Dublin is also continuing its steady climb with 528 daily movements up 2.6 per cent in August.

Cork figures were down however with a total of 63 flights using Cork each day in August and to date the airport traffic is down 3.7 per cent on August 2013.

The overall figure for Irish airports increased by 5.2 per cent in August over the same month last year, with Shannon’s success impacting significantly on that number.

The summer season saw strong growth in flights using Irish airspace, with air traffic up 6.5 per cent in August on 2013. North Atlantic traffic mirrored this trend with a 7.3 per cent increase on 2013.

CLARE County Council have no responsibility for Cregg Beach, in Lahinch. According to senior executive engineer Cyril Feeney, the only ac- cess to the beach is through private lands, making any potential public repair work there difficult for the council. Last month Cllr Bill Slattery (FG) asked that the local authority clean up the beach by pulling back the stones and gravel after the January storm to allow access for the general public onto the beach. He was told that the beach in question is not a beach routinely maintained by Clare County Council and is also situated on private property. Since then Mr Feeney has confirmed two registered landowners adjacent to the beach, with no public right of way recorded. “Where we have registered owners we should not or could not go in to do work,” he said. “So Clare County Council has no responsibility for Cregg beach?” Cllr Slattery asked at the West Clare Municipal District meeting. “Not that I am aware of,” replied the engineer. “I am not saying it is a private beach but that we have no presence there. “We would have to go through private land to access the beach,” he said. The local councillor maintained that; “For hundreds of years locals had gone up and took gravel and sand and seaweed from the beach.” It was suggested by some councillors that perhaps the work could be complete if the landowners would give permission for access.

A MAN who illegally parked in a disabled parking space at Ennis Courthouse has been disqualified from driving for three months.

At Ennis District Court on Friday, father of five Luan Heta, with an address at Park Avenue, Ennis, was also fined € 300 by Judge Patrick Durcan who has imposed stiff penalties on drivers convicted of such offences in recent months.

Mr Heta pleaded guilty to parking in a disabled person parking bay at Ennis Courthouse, Lifford Road, Ennis on March 26, 2014.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett told the court his client had business in the Courthouse on the day but could not get a parking spot. Mr Hassett said the court was particularly busy on the day in question.

He said Mr Heta forgot to pay the fixed charge penalty notice because of family difficulties he was experiencing at the time.

“He is very, very sorry,” Mr Hassett said.

Mr Hassett said he was aware this was a serious offence that the court has a particular view on. Asking the court not to disqualify his client from driving, Mr Hassett said his client has young children in school and any disqualification order would impose a hardship on the family.

Garda Liza McDonagh told the court that Mr Heta has eight previous convictions including for breach of the peace, assault and assault causing harm. Judge Patrick Durcan said that in his experience Ennis Courthouse is unique in the amount of parking spaces available for drivers.

Judge Durcan also noted that Mr Heta is a man with a “very violent history”.

In response, Mr Hassett acknowledged there was a time when Mr Heta “used to raise his fists regularly in this town” but he has matured with age.

Judge Durcan imposed a € 300 fine and by way of ancillary order, disqualified Mr Heta from driving for three months. Mr Hassett said he had been instructed by his client to appeal the decision.

Judge Durcan fixed recognisances at Mr Heta’s own bond of ˙€ 300 and an independent surety to be approved by the court of € 600.

CLARE county councillors cannot vote to reduce the Local Property Tax (LPT) until after a budget report is prepared and brought before them.

Council officials have just two weeks to complete a draft budget that previously took two months.

Delayed direction on its expenditure from central government and a requirement by Revenue to know its decision by the end of the month has put the council under sever pressure.

Council CEO Tom Coughlan said the final decision on increasing or decreasing the property tax will remain with the council members.

Former mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) said that people “need to be aware that our property tax will be leaving the county.

“There is a feeling that Clare has a surplus and we can now give money back. The reality is the people of Clare are going to subsidise the people of other cities and counties. If we reduce it by 15 per cent what are the implications?” he asked.

Cllr Richard Nagle (FF) said that the reduction might just be between € 30 to € 40 per household but that is significant in many homes.

“€ 50 to € 100 is a lot to people out there because they just do not have it,” he told last evening’s meeting of the council.

Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) asked that the county manager instruct the county solicitor to challenge the breakdown of the taxation in the courts.

EVER wanted to own a bank, or the bank building to be more accurate? Well now you can – in the town of Kilrush.

The AIB bank on Frances Street in Kilrush is to go under the hammer on September 16 as part of the Allsop Space sale.

A spokesperson from Allied Irish Banks PLC confirmed to

A TOTAL of 15 Clare schools feature in a new ranking of the top 400 secondary schools in the country.

Scoil Mhuire in Ennistymon is the highest ranked Clare school at 46th place, a jump of eight places on the North Clare School’s previous rank.

The school is also rated at 19 in the top 20 all girls schools in Ireland. Compiled by The Sunday Times, the list places Scoil Mhuire eighth in the top 20 schools in Munster, excluding Cork.

Colaiste Mhuire, Ennis ranked in 16th place in that particular list.

Colaiste Mhuire, at 74, is the only other Clare school that is listed in the top 100.

The remaining Clare schools selected by The Sunday Times are: Rice College, Ennis (106); Mary Immaculate School, Lisdoonvarna (126); Meanscoil Na mBraithre, Ennistymon (150); St John Bosco Community College, Kildysart (157); Scariff Community College (184); St Joseph’s Secondary School, Miltown Malbay (215); Ennis Community College (225); St Flannan’s College, Ennis (240); St Anne’s Community College, Killaloe (265); Kilrush Community School (249); St Caimin’s Community School, Tullyvarraga (304); St Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla (318); St Michael’s Community School, Kilmihil (343).

The top 400 secondary schools are ranked by the average proportion of pupils gaining places in autumn 2011, 2012, 2013 at one of the nine universities on the island of Ireland, main teaching training colleges, Royal College of surgeons, or National College of Art and Design.

Data was collected from 30 third- level institutions in the Republic and two in Northern Ireland.

Where schools are tied, the proportion of students gaining places at all non-private, third-level colleges is taken into account. Schools offering only senior cycle and new schools were excluded.

A LOCAL man who advocates for one of the country’s largest suicide prevention services has paid tribute to the generosity of Clare people.

Tom McEvoy said support given by people in the Banner County is a key reason why Pieta House has been able to expand its services in the West and throughout Ireland.

“Clare people are unbelievable at supporting Pieta,” he said.

Mr McEvoy continued, “We had a great darts night there recently in the Grove Bar in Roslevan, run by Kieran Reidy. I’d like to publicly thank him very much for doing that for his huge efforts. It was huge success. There was nearly € 2,300 raised. For Pieta, that will go straight into therapeutic hours in Limerick. They are helping fellow Clare people down the line.”

Mr McEvoy said the support shown by Clare people to helping Pieta House provide support and coun seling to services to vulnerable people.

“The vision for Pieta is that we are looking to have a Pieta House within 100km of every person in the country. We opened four new centres last year: Roscrea, Cork, Galway, Tuam and Castleisland,” he said.

“That opened a huge part of the country to Pieta. What we are after now is to cover the North West, Donegal. We’re actually calling to people up there. I’m doing a lot of work up there. We’re also talking actively in Waterford where those areas are devoid of any help that we can offer. We’re planning to have those centres up and running. They are fantastic goals and achievable because of the community following we have.”

Mr McEvoy was speaking as new figures show a 44 per cent rise in the number of Clare people that sought help from the Pieta House centre in Limerick during the first six months of 2014, compared to the same period last year. He said greater awareness of suicide and the issues around is enabling more and more people to come forward to seek help for their problems.

“That can be down to people’s confidence and confidentiality. There can be a sense of pride as well; sometimes they wish to remain anonymous in the area where they come. We’re obviously trying to lift the stigma of suicide. Hopefully in time to come people will attend from the localities along with the surrounding areas,” he said.

Pieta House provides a professional, one-to-one therapeutic service for those who are experiencing suicidal ideation or engaging in self-harm.

PLANS to construct a massive € 5 million graveyard and crematorium in Ennis have risen from the ashes with developers, Fenloe Property Development, appealing a decision made by Clare County Council last July to An mBord Pleanála.

The developers have lodged an appeal with the national planning authority which, if successful, could see the creation of a 4,000 plot large graveyard, as well as a crematorium just outside of Ennis.

The site, which is located at Ballaghfadda between Ennis and Clarecastle, is currently zoned residential and a material contravention of the Clare County Development Plan was required in order for the planning to go ahead through the normal planning process.

However, a planning application for the facility was already at an advanced stage when the matter went before the July meeting of Clare County Council, and the CEO of Clare County Council, Tom Coughlan, stated before the debate that planing would almost certainly be granted if the councillors had voted for the re-zoning.

A number of issues were raised in relation to the proposed Clarecastle site including the potential for pollution reaching the local water system, the traffic management of the site and a previous planning application for 250 houses on the site.

A number of procedural issues were also raised in relation to the proposal, including the proposal being advertised in the national and not the local media – with some claiming that more locals would would have made submissions on the proposal if it had been advertised locally.

The matter was put to a vote with 11 councillors voting to grant the material contravention and 15 voting against it.

The planned crematorium would see the construction of a a gated entrance, car park, chapel, offices, store, crematorium unit and furnace, memorial gardens and a large cemetery. The case is due to be decided by December of this year.